On Wednesday, the Syndicat du personnel de soutien des Trois- Lacs (SPSTL-CSQ) unfurled visuals in bargaining colors and demonstrated all around the traffic circle in Vaudreuil-Dorion. The aim of this visible action was to denounce negotiations which, according to union members, are going round in circles.

For SPSTL-CSQ president Éric Vézina, there is clearly a dialogue of the deaf with the government.

"Minister Drainville is not listening to the demands of school support staff members, and is not allowing negotiations to settle quickly as our members would like. We're here! ready to make an effort to reach a rapprochement. For this to happen, there has to be a real willingness to listen to union demands, but also to give feedback on them," he laments.

The essential contribution of tutoring staff

School support staff represent 40% of the people working in the province's schools. At the Centre de services scolaires des Trois-Lacs, there are 1,335 school support staff in 41 different job classes.

Whether administrative, manual, technical, paratechnical or direct student services staff, these people contribute to education by supporting the work of teaching, professional and management staff.

The president of the Fédération du personnel de soutien scolaire (FPSS-CSQ), Éric Pronovost, declares: "Without school support staff, schools and centers would not be able to function, and employers' offers do not reflect our importance and our essential contribution to education".

Improving the quality of jobs for school support staff

Staff shortages are a major issue for SPSTL-CSQ members. That's why SPSTL-CSQ members are calling for specific measures to improve staff attraction and retention.

"This means quality jobs with full-time positions, an end to broken schedules, the valuing of all school support jobs and family-work balance. We need concrete action and active listening from the government to solve these problems," concludes Éric Vézina.